The EAN code (or GTIN-13) is what lets a cashier in Germany, an Amazon algorithm or a Google Shopping feed recognize your product unambiguously. In e-commerce, it conditions your eligibility to the most profitable sales channels.
What is an EAN for?
- International ID: 13 universal digits, issued by GS1.
- Google Shopping: mandatory for paid and free listings.
- Amazon and marketplaces: catalog entry requires an EAN.
- Big retail: Carrefour, Leclerc, Tesco, Walmart all require valid EANs.
- Physical retail scanning: needed for in-store POS.
EAN-13 structure
13 digits = country prefix (3) + company code (4-7) + product code (2-5) + check digit (1).
300-379: France400-440: Germany500-509: United Kingdom800-839: Italy
EAN accepted on
1 EAN = 1 variant
Each size/color gets its own EAN. A GS1 license typically covers 10, 100 or 1000 codes.
The check digit
The 13th digit is calculated automatically. Seegea validates the key at input to avoid invalid EANs.
Non-reusable
An EAN assigned to a deleted product cannot be recycled for 4 years (GS1 standard).
How to get EANs in 2026
- Open an account on your local GS1 (gs1.org).
- Choose a batch (10, 100, 1000 codes depending on catalog size).
- Pay the annual license (200-400€ per batch).
- Receive your company prefix and generate your EANs.
Managing EANs in Seegea
Seegea stores the EAN on each variant, validates the check digit, detects duplicates, and pushes to Shopify (barcode) or PrestaShop (ean13). The Google Shopping feed picks up the EAN as gtin without manual intervention.
| Action | Without tool | With Seegea |
|---|---|---|
| Check digit verification | Manual | Automatic |
| Duplicate detection | CSV export + sort | Input alert |
| Bulk import | CSV roundtrip | Tabular editing |
| Shopify/PrestaShop sync | Manual | Instant push |
| Google Shopping feed | Via third-party app | Native |
"1€ EANs" sold online are not recognized by Amazon or Google. Always go through GS1.
Audit your EANs and GTINs
30 min live · we review 50 listings together
Common mistakes
- Using the same EAN across multiple variants
- Storing a 12-digit EAN (UPC-A without the leading 0)
- Missing the check digit (invalid EAN)
- Reselling an EAN after product deletion
Created in France (Annecy – Chantilly) · Email & Google Meet support
FAQ
EAN (European Article Number) is a 13-digit international barcode, equivalent to GTIN-13. It uniquely identifies a product globally.